PMPSMEHE - MSc Psychology of Mental Health

The course is designed to provide advanced training in Psychology of Mental Health and to provide an opportunity to acquire a critical understanding of the theoretical and empirical underpinnings of research in this area. This course will appeal to psychology graduates wishing to undergo clinical psychology or counselling psychology training. Further, it aims to develop the skills of those currently working in social/health care practice to support career progression. A number of the modules developed for this course are currently running in the School of Psychology, e.g. the generic modules for PG psychology - research methods and the research project. This course would provide high quality education and research training aimed clearly at the needs of the wider society and the career aspirations of a large percentage of graduate students.
The teaching and learning approach is explicitly geared towards enhancing students’ employability skills. A focus on experiential learning and reflective practices, including clinical based teaching methods, have been incorporated into the curriculum. Further, diversified assessment methods including training in positive psychology and motivational interviewing will support developing student skills.

Scheduled teaching consists of lectures, workshops (including those in the dedicated computer laboratories) and seminars (which may take place in small study rooms). The scheduled teaching programme for full time students consists of the equivalent of two full days across the week during the autumn and spring semesters. In addition to formal teaching time, students are expected to devote considerable time outside of this to independent study (under appropriate supervision). This focus on independent (but supported) learning is particularly evident within the dissertation module.

This course will critically examine the theoretical and clinical explanations of mental health and psychopathology from a biological, behavioural, social and cognitive perspective. Using formal classification systems, it will provide a multidisciplinary approach to understanding psychopathology. Various theoretical frameworks in both the understanding and management of psychological difficulties will be explored across the lifespan. This will also include contemporary areas such as resilience, positive psychology, mindfulness and resilience, which have become increasingly popular in healthcare. In line with the QAA, Care Quality Commission (CQC) and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, the core modules aim to provide an opportunity to critically examine local and national policies and service planning for access and treatment of mental health; understanding relevant social, biological, cultural and economic contexts and reflect on the advantages of a multidisciplinary service to meet the range of needs across the lifespan. Teaching and learning practices have been aligned with QAA, CQC and NICE recommendations in order to ensure the quality standards and relevant benchmarking tools. Those attending the MSc Psychology of Mental Health will develop a critical understanding of knowledge, clinical skills, reflective practice, analytical techniques and problem-solving skills. It also develops competencies in conducting research and analysis in relation to psychology of mental health including an understanding of child and adult safeguarding along with pertinent ethical issues which may arise in clinical practice.

Applicants who are eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society (BPS) or have significant prior research methods training and statistical knowledge (quantitative and qualitative) will be provided an opportunity to undertake ‘Advanced Research Design and Data Analysis’. Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) is an entry requirement for many BPS accredited postgraduate training courses including Clinical and Counselling Psychology. This would commensurate with that found in a BPS accredited first qualification in psychology. For applicants who do not possess a GBC Psychology degree and/or have limited statistical knowledge will be encouraged to take the ‘Research Design and Analysis for Psychology’ module.

The course aims:

1. To provide students with up-to-date and advanced training in Psychology of Mental Health
2. To develop a broader understanding of recent developments in mental health.
3. To provide an opportunity for students to acquire intellectual knowledge and develop
skills useful to identifying and managing a wide range of mental health problems.
4. To provide opportunities for students to develop competence in conducting research and scholarly analysis focused on mental health across the lifespan
5. To encourage students to explore ways in which knowledge can contribute to the policy development in this discipline.
6. To encourage depth and systematic critical understanding appropriate to needs of those experiencing mental health via a bio-psychosocial and cultural perspective.
7. To make a contribution to national mental health training needs to all those who have a role to play in supporting those with mental health across health, social care, education and youth justice etc. Thus, enhancing the capabilities and competencies of mental health practitioners, supporting career change and/or progression.

Successful completion of this course would develop students’ knowledge and skills in working in mental health with the aim of enhancing student’s employability skills. This would provide students with a transferable understanding of mental health from a bio-psychosocial and cultural perspective into working practice and/or further academic study. To support this, motivational interviewing and positive psychology would be integrated into the course in order to enable students to put theory into practice and develop student’s practical and professional skills.
Knowledge and understanding

On completing the course, students are expected to:
1. Have a comprehensive understanding and awareness of both theoretical and practical applications relevant to the main factors influencing mental health.
2. Have systematic understanding of the main aetiology including social, biological, cultural and economic context relevant to mental health.
3. Have insights and advanced knowledge on the impacts of untreated mental health problems.
4. Have originality in the application of knowledge together with a practical understanding of main research methods and treatment of data relevant to the field of Psychology of Mental Health.
5. Contextualise key policy issues with sound knowledge including ethical considerations associated with the research and practice of Psychology of Mental Health.

Cognitive/ Intellectual skills

On completing the course, students will be able to:
1. Evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in the discipline.
2. Provide a critical assessment of methodologies of published work and develop critiques of them, and where appropriate to propose new hypotheses.
3. Generate original programme of research in Psychology of Mental Health and include testable hypotheses, well operationalised concepts, ethical and sound data collection procedures as well as use of appropriate analysis.
4. Act autonomously while planning and implementing tasks at professional or equivalent level and hence make decisions in complex or unpredictable situations.
5. Think critically and appreciate the value of alternative approaches and evidence-based practice in Psychology of Mental Health.

Practical Skills

On completing the course, students will be able to:
1. Develop interpersonal and IT skills that are vital to use and to analyse data; and hence to produce appropriate level course relevant documentation.
2. Produce scientific writing to an advanced level, including selecting, organising, analysing, evaluating and synthesising complex material in the field.
3. Perform analyses of data to a standard commensurate with a Masters level education;
4. Make informed judgement on complex issues relevant to the data.
5. Produce an original piece of research work in Psychology of Mental Health.
6. Effectively present complex ideas and analysis orally.
7. Continue to reflect upon their learning and upon their professional development needs as mental health practitioners.

Key/ transferable skills including employability and professional practice

On completing the course, students will be able to:
1. Articulate knowledge clearly and comprehensively to specialist and non-specialist audiences, both orally and in writing and in a manner appropriate to the context.
2. Evaluate critically arguments, assumptions and conclusions based on insights and supporting evidence.
3. Use IT skills appropriately to search for, analyse and present information.
4. Demonstrate awareness and originality in tackling ethical dilemmas and professional conduct relevant to the practice of Psychology of Mental Health.

Teaching and learning practices have been aligned with QAA recommendations in order to ensure the quality standards and relevant benchmarking tools. Those attending the MSc Psychology of Mental Health will develop a critical understanding of knowledge, clinical skills, reflective practice, analytical techniques and problem-solving skills.
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuring-standards-and-quality/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements

http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/Subject-benchmark-statement-Psychology.pdf [To gain understanding of the L7 awards and relevant guidance]

The course is assessed through a variety of tasks that allow for the demonstration of academic learning through mechanisms that support employability skills. Thus students are assessed through essay, case studies (including reflective, consultancy and individual), oral presentation, critical and systematic reviews, qualitative and quantitative research reports.

N/A (this course does not have work based learning).

PG Certificate Psychology of Mental Health
• Any combination of taught modules, excluding dissertation to the value of 60 credits
PG Diploma in Psychology of Mental Health
• All taught modules, including the exclusion of the research dissertation; value of 120 credits

On the welcome day, the careers service provides a short talk on the services they offer. Students will receive information during the appropriate lectures regarding how the knowledge and competencies from the course can be applied to a wide range of settings. The modules contain exercises which assist with personal development (such as workshops and discussions related to the application of ethics to practice settings). Many of the modules allow students to produce a reflective account outlining the individual’s experiences and learning in relation to course material. Formative feedback is provided in relation to both examinations and coursework which focuses on assisting students to improve their personal and academic skills.

This is aimed at increasing student’s employability skills and/or by increasing the student’s chances of being accepted onto a clinical psychology course. Since motivational interviewing and positive psychology have been integrated into the curriculum this would be aimed at increasing numbers of students onto the designated module whilst minimizing the demand on university resources. Motivational interviewing and positive psychology are practiced by health care practitioners including clinical psychologists on the NHS. Part of the assessment process will include reflective learning/personal development. Students’ with no prior core skills in psychology and/or healthcare will be urged to pursue additional clinical/counselling studies and training following the successful completion of the course. Members of staff in the psychology department have already attended these courses and are therefore in a position to develop the curriculum and teach these subjects. Additional HPL specialists will also be invited to make relevant contributions to the curriculum.

A scheduled teaching session during welcome week by the careers service is included within the MSc. The Careers service offers continuing support to students both during their studies and after graduation.

This is a non-accredited course but students would obtain an MSc along with professional certificates in motivational interviewing and positive psychology used in NHS practices.

Students completing the continuing professional development (CPD) could attend either the motivational interviewing, the positive psychology certificate or both. This would support your CPD and promote good working practices for students who continue on to become health care practitioners such as psychologists, psychiatrists, physicians or counsellors working in the NHS and/or private practice.

Successful applicants will normally have a good degree (minimum 2:2). Those with degrees in social work, healthcare, nursing, counselling or an equivalent relevant professional qualification can apply and will be assessed individually.

Proficiency in the English language is essential. If English is not your first language, you will require an IELTS 6.5 minimum with a minimum score of 6 in all components. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.